Red Sox score winner in 10th

Victorino singles into 5-man infield to seal Boston win

Associated Press

Published 10:54 pm, Saturday, April 13, 2013

Photo: Jim Rogash

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BOSTON, MA - APRIL 13: Shane Victorino #18 of the Boston Red Sox, with helmet celebrates with Greg Colbrunn #28 of the Boston Red Sox after Victorino singled in the winning run in the 10th inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on April 13, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) less

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 13: Shane Victorino #18 of the Boston Red Sox, with helmet celebrates with Greg Colbrunn #28 of the Boston Red Sox after Victorino singled in the winning run in the 10th inning against the ... more

Photo: Jim Rogash

Red Sox score winner in 10th

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Shane Victorino didn't even notice Tampa Bay's unusual five-man infield. His only thought was to make contact with the speedy Jacoby Ellsbury standing on third base.

Victorino had a well-placed RBI single into an overloaded infield in the 10th inning Saturday, lifting the Red Sox to a 2-1 win over the Rays.

Ellsbury singled with one out against Brandon Gomes (0-1), stole second and advanced on catcher Jose Lobaton's throwing error when the ball deflected off shortstop Yunel Escobar's glove and into short right field. Victorino then hit a hard grounder into the unusual infield configuration that second baseman Ben Zobrist made a diving stop on to his right. But he was unable to make a throw home.

"That's the goal right there," Victorino said. "Just put the ball in play. I've been in that spot before."

Ellsbury knew he'd score easily once the ball got past the pitcher.

"When I saw him dive, I knew I was going to get in," he said.

David Ross had a solo homer for Boston, which snapped a two-game losing streak.

Rays manager Joe Maddon felt it was just hit in the wrong spot for his defense.

"The ball was perfect," he said. "You bisect two guys on the same side of the infield and then furthermore, hit it at the right speed."

Lester held the Rays to one run on five hits, walked one and struck out five to move into sixth place ahead of Luis Tiant on the club's career strikeout list with 1,078. Tiant had 1,075 from 1971-78.

Price, coming off a miserable start when he allowed a career-worst eight runs last Sunday against Cleveland, pitched six innings, allowing just the solo homer to Ross and three other hits while striking out eight and walking four.